By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
The Labour Party (LP) Candidate in the February 3 Ebonyi South senatorial district bye-election, Chief Linus Okorie says he will institute a drug revolving fund in the district if elected Senator.
The seat became vacant after its occupier, Chief David Umahi resigned to assume duties as Minister of Works.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio subsequently declared the seat vacant while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed the bye elections in for February.3, 2024.
Okorie, runner-up when the election was initially held on Febeuary 25, 2023 said on Saturday in Abakaliki that promoting health in the district’s communities would be his top priority.
The former House of Representatives member said he would partner with viable govermental and non-governmental organisations to improve healthcare through functional health centres.
“We will partner the organisations to institute a drug revolving fund for each community.
“The fund will ensure that drugs are sold at cost-prices, plus a low mark-up, and the revenue would be used to replenish drug stocks.
“This will ensure that out of stock drug syndrome which hampers delivery of quality healthcare at our communities, will be addressed,”
Okorie said that he would leverage the National Heath Insurance Scheme (NHIS) programme for the informal sector to ensure health insurance coverage for youths and the aged.
“This will be achieved by providing seed capital for communities that sign up for the health insurance scheme.
“Rich and influential members of the district will be encouraged to pay counterparts for their communities, to enable the aged, poor and needy access heath care at no cost.
“The informal sector insurance rate presently is about N15,000 annually and we shall provide a percentage of this amount for participating communities,” he said.
He noted that in education, scholarship schemes for indigent students would be introduced while reading, writing and public speaking programmes amongst students, would be supported.
“This is to address the declining fortunes in literacy, numeracy, science and technology amongst our school children.
“We shall construct well equipped and internet enabled Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres to propel our children towards ICT and digital skills at young ages.
“The centres will be constructed in each of the five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the district and they shall serve as hubs for computer training for students.
“The five centres shall be forged into a network, linked to professional certification authorities to give our youths cutting- edge skills to propel them into the modern economy”.
